Southeast Raleigh teacher says she tried to stop deadly stabbing but got trapped behind crowd of students filming
Students returned to Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School Thursday for the first time since Monday's deadly stabbing – to an atmosphere they are describing as calm, quiet, somber and anxious.
Police and private security kept a watchful eye at the main doors and perimeters of the campus.
"The students have been remarkably resilient," said one teacher, who didn't wish to be named. "It's been kind of quiet, as we expected. Things are going as well as they can."
This teacher shared her perspective of the overall climate at the school on Thursday – and what she says are systemic issues many schools are facing, not just Southeast Raleigh.
"This incident stems out of a greater, systemic issue that our schools are going through with under funding," she explained. "I'm proud of my school. We experienced a trauma, a trauma that could happen almost anywhere."
This need for overall school safety is highlighted by all of the frightening events happening in schools around central North Carolina this week alone – a gun found in a student's backpack in Rocky Mount, a bomb threat in Carrboro, a student with a loaded gun in Durham and student in Lumberton found with a gun.
The teacher recounts Monday morning as the fatal fight broke out. She said she heard a yelp in her hallway.
"I was trying to respond to it. I got trapped behind students trying to film," she said. "One of them yelled that a kid had a knife."
Students are also learning to process the tragic event. Crystal Butler, whose 15-year-old daughter attends Southeast, said she has been experiencing heightened anxiety since the stabbing.
"(It is) just really hard for me and the community," Butler said.
She said her daughter has been sad and shocked since the incident.
"Now she’s fearful if she can even go back to school," Butler said.
The stabbing inside the gym took the life of 15-year-old Delvin Ferrell. A blossoming memorial now sits outside his home in Heritage Park. His mother broke her silence on his obituary page with words of sorrow for her son:
"To my baby boy, I love u so much, words can not explain how I am feeling right now, you were always the one that was here for me at times like this, telling me ma dont cry its gonna be ok, and you hug me, now who gonna comfort me like you. I miss your smile, your kind heart and mostly importantly I miss your spirit. A life time without u is a unhappy lifetime, Im so sorry this happened to you and you did not deserve this, this one is on me, I don't blame anybody but myself, and the one that took your life, he had a choice and he chose to take your life away, I love you son, never will be forgotten and forever loved."
Tyquan General, Jr., 14, is in custody for Ferrell's murder. A 16-year-old is also recovering from stab wounds.
Crisis response teams will be on campus here in the coming days.
Southeast Raleigh community leaders issue citywide call to action
In response to the violence at Southeast Raleigh High School, faith and community leaders in southeast Raleigh are issuing a citywide "call to action, prayer and solution" this Sunday.
Community members are invited to Word of God Fellowship this Sunday at 1 p.m. on Rock Quarry Road.
Following the vigil, a time for healing will be held at 4 p.m. in support of the students and their families, which is set to take place at Macadonia New Life Church.
